Government Funded for a Year; Some Cuts Made to Health Programs

Congress averted a government shutdown last week by approving a new funding bill that runs through September 30, 2012. There were several cuts to existing Affordable Care Act: $400 million from the CO-OP program and $10 million from the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB). It is unclear whether IPAB would be able to function without these funds. Health and Human Services was cut about $700 million below last year’s level. Click here http://t.congressweb.com/l/?EARDQPWIRGRRBOH for an excellent 15-page summary of the funding bill – health spending starts on page 9.